Mizuno 223 or 225

[odshot68]

Looking for comparisons of these two irons. TXG has seemed to love the 225 but wondering others opinions on this. 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

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Edited February 21 by iNeedMoreGolf
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[Dutch1008]

6 hours ago, odshot68 said:

Looking for comparisons of these two irons. TXG has seemed to love the 225 but wondering others opinions on this. 

I hit both (among many others) and ended up in the 223. I liked the 225 quite a bit and thought it was by far the best feeling and looking hollow body iron. For me, it was just too hot. I'm pretty long in general (Driver SS ~118-120) and just don't need a 7i that flys 210+. I also tend to hit my irons too high and the 225 was peaking out a good 10-15 ft higher than the 223 (~140 vs 125). 

 

The 225 are going to be a little more forgiving (especially in the long irons), launch higher, and fly further than the 223. If that's what your looking for, they could be for you. As a broader statement, I'd say that the 225 is a pretty forgiving players distance iron, while the 223 is a pretty forgiving distance CB. If that makes sense. 

 

I ended up choosing the 223 over the T100. Really liked both. Preferred the looks of the T100 but the feel of the 223. The 223 won out by being a little bigger footprint and a bit more forgiving.   

[cg0rd0noo7]

11 minutes ago, Dutch1008 said:

it was by far the best feeling and looking hollow body iron. For me, it was just too hot.

Same for me. The 225 looks great but it was too hot and I got more fliers than I would like. 
 

I also tried the 223 and they were better for me. 

[over7par]

I'll echo what they said above--had the 225 for about 3 months last spring into summer and honestly thought they were going to stick, but I just couldn't get the longer irons (4-6, into the 7-ish sometimes) to hold greens consistently. I loved the look, feel, launch, distance, all of it. But as someone who's never had much issue generating spin, I just couldn't get them to hold.

 

I've only hit 223 indoors testing against other irons and I found the Titleist T100-S to be a better performer up against them. T100-S actually plays longer than T200 did for me and has more forgiveness in it than it looks like it should. About to have some i230s and maybe ZX7s going up against the T100-S, but right now, I'm not sure anything will get them out of the bag.

 

I'll say, I do believe the 225 is the best club in that category. I hit P790, Forged Tec, and Apex 21 out on the course for 9-18 holes with each and I think the 225 shines over them all. So I think it just all depends on what you're looking for in 225 vs 223. Both should be excellent options depending on what fits you.

[cyr67]

Combo them? A buddy of mine has 225 in 4-6 and 223 in 7-P and loves them. He's a 3 h'cap. I asked him about feel and flow, as it is unusual to transition from a blade (look) in the 225 to a CB in the 223, as you usually go the other way around, CB to blade, and he has no issues. Feel is similar enough for him. Also, he has no problem stopping the 225 long irons either, but he has a steep AOA, and is a higher spin player. 

[MyShortGameSucks]

I had the 225s for a while and was not super impressed.  Loved the look and how they say behind the ball but for whatever reason I could not get consistent contact off the turf, especially with 8-PW.  On a whim I tried 223 and they were absolutely what I was looking for.  The 5-7 felt pretty much as forgiving as the JPX 921 Forged but looked and felt way better.  The 8-PW felt almost as good as the JPX921 Tour and were more forgiving.

 

I guess what I am trying to say is that combo-ing with 225 /223 does not make sense to me as the 223 4-7 are already very forgiving, long somewhat hot faced and kind of a combo set already.  I could totally see using a 225 2,3 or even 4 iron if you don't play hybrids.

 

[PowerCobra98]

225's are the best set of irons I've ever played.  Not coincidently I had my best season of golf ever last year.

[odshot68]

I’m currently using a set of MP20MB and looking for higher flight and more forgiving. Also going to switch to a lighter shaft. Hard to tell turf interaction off a mat. I’ve never done well with thick soled irons. 

[aquapig]

19 hours ago, iNeedMoreGolf said:

I hear they are very very similar this year. I personally think the 223 is outstanding. Feel and club balance with the moddus 115 is amazing. If i didnt have mp20 mmc i would have wanted these lol

Same boat...The 223a are amazing. But I too have the MP 20 MMCs and no reason to change. 

[Audi A-Fore]

21 hours ago, Dutch1008 said:

I hit both (among many others) and ended up in the 223. I liked the 225 quite a bit and thought it was by far the best feeling and looking hollow body iron. For me, it was just too hot. I'm pretty long in general (Driver SS ~118-120) and just don't need a 7i that flys 210+. I also tend to hit my irons too high and the 225 was peaking out a good 10-15 ft higher than the 223 (~140 vs 125). 

 

The 225 are going to be a little more forgiving (especially in the long irons), launch higher, and fly further than the 223. If that's what your looking for, they could be for you. As a broader statement, I'd say that the 225 is a pretty forgiving players distance iron, while the 223 is a pretty forgiving distance CB. If that makes sense. 

 

I ended up choosing the 223 over the T100. Really liked both. Preferred the looks of the T100 but the feel of the 223. The 223 won out by being a little bigger footprint and a bit more forgiving.   

 

This was exactly my experience, except it was the T100s. Also, my Driver SS is about 20mph slower than @Dutch1008🤔

 

223 was the most precise, had the tightest dispersion, the best feel, and are essentially a built-in combo set with the 7-4i construction. 225s didn't spin enough for me and were way less consistent in dispersion, and the T100/ T100s were just a hair less forgiving than the 223. I REALLY wanted to get the T100s as an old AP2 devotee, but the results spoke for themselves.

 

Side note, the 223 sole design is fantastic for turf interaction.

 

 

[iNeedMoreGolf]

5 hours ago, aquapig said:

Same boat...The 223a are amazing. But I too have the MP 20 MMCs and no reason to change. 

Yeah the mmc20 are amazing iron too. Forgiving... not hard to hit feel great. Can hit straight or workable. The 223 are just a touch even softer. Mizuno makes great irons cant deny.

[odshot68]

For those playing the 223, did you adjust the lofts or keep status quo?

[reamr87]

6 hours ago, odshot68 said:

For those playing the 223, did you adjust the lofts or keep status quo?

I went with 223. The turf interaction for me produced better performance. I also enjoy the slightly softer feel. 

 

I bent them weak to fit the bottom end of my bag for gapping reasons. I’d rather have tighter numbers 8-W versus 4-7. Having the additional spin and launch on course is nice as well when coming out of the rough - mitigate the low spin nukey ball over the green. 

[benrd5420]

I played a set of both through last season, ending the year with the 225 in the long irons.  I think what is tough for these is that they are harder to distinguish in the fitting bay. The 223 and 225 both feel great.  When you are testing, you will have a 223 with the insert going against the hollow 225, and will find both to be very explosive off the face while maintaining the softer feel Mizuno is known for.  The beauty (to me) of the 223 is that 8i and down it is solid with no insert.  That was for me where the benefit of 223 really came to light.  I am not a fan of my scoring irons feeling like they are going to shoot off the face and fly the green.  I want good feedback, but also want to know what to expect when I look up at the ball.  

 

If you have a chance to play a set of both below the 8 iron, I think that will be where you will really feel them separate.

[TLUBulldogGolf]

223s for me as a blade user, they clearly have a bit more horsepower but they don't feel jumpy off the face. About to pull the trigger on a 4 and 5 iron to stretch out that end of the bag some. I'm going to have them bent a degree weak.

Edited February 2, 2023 by TLUBulldogGolf

[Kurtis4K]

As a fan of forgiveness, im partial to the 225

[odshot68]

Definitely decided on the 223. Just figuring out the shaft now. 

[JJgolfwrx]

@odshot68 wise choice, and it fits a ton of people. What shafts have you used before? Also, if you have a store you can go to you can try the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer to get a baseline. 

 

[odshot68]

Currently using dg s400 tour issue. Used s300 prior to that. Had a short stint with c tapers but we’re bad on the elbows. 

[Boricua Golf]

I have to agree, 223s are the perfect combination of 221 and 225, right in the middle with the same feel and performance, I had Mizunos before (MP30, MP33, JPX Tours), they just feel different, congrats on the decision, now with the right shaft they can be deadly!!!

[jomatty]

I’ve played both.  The 225’s are currently in the bag.  The 223’s were great but I can always use extra distance and the feel is pretty good in the 225’s imo.  Both are really good.  Just depends on how much distance and forgiveness you need.  

[JJgolfwrx]

5 minutes ago, odshot68 said:

Currently using dg s400 tour issue. Used s300 prior to that. Had a short stint with c tapers but we’re bad on the elbows. 

@odshot68DGS400 are great. Heavy weight to it, but still has feel. Would you say that's why you gravitated toward it? If so, Mizuno has Modus 125 Stiff but for an upcharge.

[odshot68]

I’ll have to try it. Thanks for suggestion. 

[Dutch1008]

22 hours ago, odshot68 said:

For those playing the 223, did you adjust the lofts or keep status quo?

I purchased 4-GW and kept the status quo. However, after playing with them for a bit I may want to bend my 7i  a degree weak and my GW a degree strong. However, I want to get on a launch monitor and do a gap analysis to confirm that my hunch is real. 

[ReidE5]

Bought 225's with stock Projectx IO shafts off the shelf last year and enjoyed them.  Then I decided to actually get fit a month or two ago to see if i was missing out on anything and the 223's with modus 115 ended up giving me more spin and height with more of a prefered feel off the club face.  The height and spin could totally be due to the 2 degrees weaker loft in each iron of the 223 but I loved the more solid/soft feel (if that makes sense) also and ive been seriously loving them since.  Not noticing any difference in forgiveness.  If anything Im miss hitting less with the 223 but that could also be due to getting fit and having proper lie angle and all that for my swing.  

 

The 225's did go a little further sometimes when really struck perfect.  Both really great irons IMO depending on which one you mesh with most.

[Audi A-Fore]

Bottom line - get the most forgiving irons you're willing to look at. The benefits of either are only relevant to each of our own swings.

 

When I help my friends with equipment, I ask them to stack rank the following:

• forgiveness
• distance
• consistency (dispersion)
• looks/feel
• "playability" (ie you want high and straight, or want to 'work' some shots?)

I also factor in how far they hit it and try and get a feel for how much they value scoring (hint: it's not #1 a lot of the time).

 

I could use the distance of the 225, but the consistency (ie spin rate, launch/decent angles) on the 223's was better suited for my game. The feel, turf interaction, etc. is all icing on the cake.

[Inglewood]

Have played both - the 225 are hotter; the 223 have a better forged feel when hit pure.  I just cant stand the look of the 223 tbh.

[tigercolt77]

Been playing the 225's since the summer and I believe they are the best irons I've ever played. I don't get any fliers and the dispersion is tight for me. Spin is fine, I love the look and feel with just enough forgiveness. I play mine 1 degree weak throughout the set. Just as long as my cf19's but better for me in every category. 

[BirdieBob]

Mizzy comboing?